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“The cabby let us off at the Sheba Lounge at around quarter to ten. My first impression of the club was that it was definitely hip, or whatever word they use nowadays. The place was nice and intimate, all done up in funky colors, with lots of wood and leather and big overstuffed chairs. It was elegant, but it felt real comfortable, like you were in someone’s living room. If this was the kind of place Paul hung out in, I had to admit the kid had class.
I had to raise my voice to be heard above the piano player who was belting out a tune for the crowd. The hostess, a pretty black girl with legs that just wouldn’t quit, smiled, acting like she’d been expecting us, when I told her we were meeting a Mr. Jefferson.
“Paul’s in the bar. Would you follow me please,” she said, weaving her way through the crowded tables until we reached a second, equally inviting room. Paul was all dressed up in a stylish looking silk suit and sitting near a trendy looking gas fired fireplace. I was surprised to see another big black guy with him wearing casual slacks, a white cashmere turtleneck, and shades. Paul smiled when he saw us and waved us over.
“Hey man, glad you could make it… Hi Connie! I’d like you two to meet my friend Lionel. Lionel, this is Mark and his lovely wife Connie.”
“Hey… what’s up,” Lionel grinned as he looked Connie up and down. “Look at you girl! Paul told me you were beautiful, but his description didn’t do you justice! I’ve been hearing nothing but good things about you little lady!” Lionel was so big he made me nervous but Connie seemed quite taken by him. Paul stood up and Connie sat between him and Lionel, so I had to take the chair across the table. I sat watching helplessly as my wife lapped up all the attention the two men giving her. After we’d all had a couple of rounds of drinks, she was getting quite drunk and was laughing away at their jokes. At one point Lionel even squeezed Connie’s upper thigh. I was beginning to get an uneasy feeling about where things might be headed, and I resolved to stop things before they got too far out of hand. Paul looked over at me and grinned.
“Hey Mark, chill out! you look far too serious! Is everything okay with you, buddy?”
“I’m fine Paul. I guess I’m just a little tired so I don’t think Connie and I will be having a very late night tonight.”
“We’ve got just the thing to pick you up man. Lionel’s got some real fine B.C. bud in the car that should make you feel right at home! What say we take off to the party and fire up a big blunt along the way?”
Perhaps Paul was right. Maybe I was getting too serious. I didn’t want to spoil Connie’s night out because she’d really been looking forward to the party. Maybe getting a little buzz on ‘would’ put me more in the mood. I hadn’t smoked any dope since way back in high school but I remembered music sounded really good when I was a little stoned. Besides, I was kind of flattered that Paul saw us as cool enough to share a joint with. I looked at my wife to see if she had any objection but she was nodding enthusiastically, which surprised me because as far as I knew she’d never done it before.